Oklahoma linebacker Kobie McKinzie plans to enter NCAA transfer portal

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Oklahoma linebacker Kobie McKinzie plans to enter NCAA transfer portal

Sep 13, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kobie McKinzie (11) reacts against the Temple Owls in the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Oklahoma linebacker Kobie McKinzie plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, he told On3’s Hayes Fawcett. He is a talented, proven contributor.

He will have one year of eligibility remaining after spending the past four years at Oklahoma. He is coming off arguably his best season in college, so he’ll undoubtedly have several high-profile suitors.

This season, Kobie McKinzie logged a career-high 32 tackles, a career-high 6.5 tackles for a loss and a sack. He was a disruptive force on an Oklahoma defense that helped power the team to a College Football Playoff appearance.

In the last three years, McKinzie has totaled 84 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and four passes defended. He redshirted after seeing action in four games, primarily on special teams, as a freshman in 2022.

Prior to enrolling at Oklahoma, Kobie McKinzie was ranked as a four-star prospect and the No. 231 overall recruit in the 2022 class, according to the On3 Consensus. He also checked in as the No. 24 linebacker in the class and the No. 39 overall player from the state of Texas, hailing from Lubbock (TX) Lubbock-Cooper.

All eyes on John Mateer’s future

While the Sooners will be disappointed to learn that Kobie McKinzie intends to seek options elsewhere, most of the focus coming off the playoff loss is on quarterback John Mateer. What will he opt to do going forward?

Mateer was pressed on his future at Oklahoma after the Sooners lost 34-24 to Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff. With one year of eligibility remaining, he can return to Oklahoma, hit the transfer portal or head to the NFL.

“I haven’t really thought about it yet,” Mateer said. “I’m pretty sure I’ll take some time and weigh all the options and we’ll see.”

Mateer finished his season with 2,885 yards, 14 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, a 62.2% completion percentage, 431 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He did not measure up to career highs at Washington State in 2024.

“I haven’t really taken a step back. I’m sure I will in the next couple of weeks, really see how we did. We did a lot of things people didn’t expect. And it’s just because of the group of guys we had,” Mateer said. “I love these guys. And we all hate that it’s over. And that’s all I’m really thinking about right now. I wish we could just have one more day together.”

Kobie McKinzie has made his intentions clear. Will Mateer follow a similar track? We’ll have to stay tuned to find out.

On3’s Nick Kosko also contributed to this report.

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